The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-15
The Good White Brother.

ABOUT fifteen ilutS rum tho bV"''T
ful City OF Tallahassee, the capital OF
Florida, lived an OLD planter whose
relations with the Indians had been
so pleasant that he had not the slight
est fear OF danger, although an Indian
war had broke out and he had been
warned OF the possible result to him
self. He had been almost paternal
in his conduct toward them, upright
and lust in all his dealings, giving them
shelter and food whenever requested,
always aiding them in distress, and
seemed to occupy % very high place IN
their rega d. A great many oil his
neighbors had abandoned their plan
tations and fled to the forts, but he
remained, confident in his belief OF ab-
solute safety, and having been repeat
eddy assured by the Indians that, no
matter what happened, this good
white brother" as they called him,
and his family should not be moles'
ted. His family consisted of himself,
wife, and little girl OF tender years,
and two chubby boys Old and 6years
1t was a warm, beautiful day in early
September. Earth, sky and air were
in blessed amity, and the scene was
one OF placid peace and quiet. In the
horee lot the mules stood munchlng
their fodder, the score OF slaves were
at their quarters enjoying Their noon
day rest, and the planter and his VIE,
having finished their dinner, were sit
ting on the long, rambling piazza hay
ing quiet chat over household al
fairs. All at once they notice par
tv of some thirty Indians approach
ing the house. This, however was no
unusual spectacle, and excited no feel
ing OF uneasiness or apprehension,
even though the savages were IN tulI
war paint.
The planter, relying implicitly on the
friendly feelings he supposed were ELI
tertained for him by the Indians, and
which he knew he had well deserved
by long years OF friendly service, greet
ed them with kindly smile and acor'
dial handshake as they cane TO the
porch, all OF which they appeared to
reciprocate. The good wife brought
| them out II nice lunch, OF the best the
house afforded, which they seemed
very grateful for. After eating this
they bestowed themselves carelessy
upon the porch and lighting their
pipes became absorbed in the fragrant
wreaths OF smoke.
What scene for painter The
middea aged planter and his wife in the
center, calm and peaceful, without the
/ i. ~ 1t af 10 IN
minds; the two little boys romping in
the doorway; the negroes laughing
and singing in their cabins, and group.
ed around this happy home circle n
! band OF merciless savages, each one,
! though outwardly calm and compos-
ed, with murder ranking in his heart
and every nerve tinging with pleased
expectancy waiting for n sign from
their lea der to turn the peaceful scene
in to one OF blood, outrage, ruin and
desolation. In order to give his red
guests some amusement, the plan
ter called some OF the slaves
] to the porch. One OF them had a
| banjo and rapidly lingering the
/ strings he sent out Jolly strains OF
mild melody, to which the others
danced in rude harmony. The In.
dams seemed very much pleased with
this entertainment, but the furtive
looks that they cast at the leader
showed that they were becoming inn
patient over the delay. Their eyes
seemed to glisten with q more intense
ulster; the pipes were carefully put
away; the decisive moment had come.
The leader occupied n position al
most directly in the rear of the plant
re. Carelessy stretching himself he
loosened his tomahawk from its belt.
The Others RENAMED motionless and
impassive. With quick movement,
like the leap of startled PLANTER, he
buried his Ratchet in the skull OF tn,
unsupported planter. With smoth-
cred groan the victim fell from his
chair dead.
His wife sprang to her feet with "
Wild shrek OF horror and despair ana
turned to flee. A rude hand clutched
her by the hair and brought her to
her knees; sharp knife cut her throat
from ear to ear. Another flourish OF
the blood-stained knife and her scalp
was tore off while she was yet in the
throes of death. The negroes were
placed under guard while the savages
searched high and low for the little
girl. The little boys were bound hand
and foot and their tongues cut out.
They were then thrown into the kitch-
| en- The mules were brought out and
the barn and out-buildings fired. The
search for the little girl was a fruit
less one and was finally abandoned.
Returning to the house they secured
what r;ander they could find and then
set fire to the house, and taking the
negroes with them left the place. The